Obituaries

Linda Ferguson Cranston was born on a beautiful, crisp, Sunday morning on Sept. 17, 1944. Her parents were Loel Ferguson and Mary Albaugh Ferguson. They lived briefly in Montezuma, until Loel bought a farm south of town. She grew up on the farm. She loved animals, bottle-fed calves, had a herd of cats and a dog named Porchy. She met the love of her life in high school, and she and David dated four years before eloping to marry.

Theodore (Ted) Edward Thompson II passed away at the Iowa Veteran’s Home on Sept. 8, 2025. Ted was born on Aug. 3, 1945, to Ed and Evelyn Thompson. Ted was raised in Poplar Springs, Md., by his grandparents, Leroy and Irene Thompson. Ted had many fond memories of growing up with his uncle David in the family’s two-story farmhouse and spending time with his beloved aunt Vivian and her son Keith.

Joyce Eileen (Chappell) Novey, age 84, of La Crosse, Wis., passed away on Aug. 28, 2025.  Joyce was born in Oelwein on May 29, 1941, to George and Ruth (Kamoss) Chappell. Her family resided in various locations in Iowa during her childhood years: Strawberry Point, Randall, Littleport and McGregor.

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Lisa Scarff, who left us on July 22, 2025, surrounded by love. A beloved mother, sister, friend and true force of nature, Lisa lived life full throttle and entirely on her own terms.